SOCIAL INDICATOR OF INTERPERSONAL HARM - FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 36620
• Author(s): A D BIDERMAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 41 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-SS-99-6003
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Bureau of Social Science Research, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS OF AN EXPLORATION OF A SURVEY STRATEGY FOR REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF THREE SOURCES OF RESPONSE ERROR IN VICTIMIZATION SURVEY DATA ON ASSAULTIVE VIOLENCE.

Abstract

RESPONDENTS WERE FIRST ASKED IF THEY WERE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PAIN OR WERE HANDICAPPED BECAUSE OF AN INJURY. THOSE WITH INJURY CONDITIONS WERE THEN ASKED IF THEY WERE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PAIN OR WERE HANDICAPPED BECAUSE OF AN INJURY. THOSE WITH INJURY CONDITIONS WERE THEN ASKED IF THE INJURY WAS DUE TO ACTS OF OTHERS; IF SO, WHETHER 'NEGLIGENT, RECKLESS, OR HOSTILE' ACTS HAD BEEN INVOLVED, AND, FINALLY, WHETHER THE RESPONDENT REGARDED THE INJURY-CAUSING ACT AS CRIMINAL. SUCH CURRENT AND OBJECTIVE CONSEQUENCES SCREENING QUESTIONS WERE TESTED IN TWO SMALL-SCALE EMPIRICAL TRIALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. - IN AN OMNIBUS SURVEY OF QUOTA-SELECTED RESPONDENTS IN A MULTI-STAGE PROBABILITY SAMPLE OF 641 HOUSEHOLDS AND BY INTERVIEWS IN 38 HOUSEHOLDS IN WHICH SOMEONE RESIDED FOR WHOM THERE WAS A RECORD OF AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR AN INJURY DURING THE PRECEDING FOUR WEEKS, AS WELL AS IN 20 'CONTROL' HOUSEHOLDS. THE OMNIBUS SURVEY FOUND A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH PREVALENCE OF INJURY CONDITIONS ATTRIBUTED TO CRIMES (30/1000 PERSONS) TO SUGGEST THE PROPOSED SCREENING STRATEGY HAS POTENTIAL VALUE FOR GAINING DATA ON INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE LOST TO VAGARIES OF VICTIMS' MEMORIES OR OF THEIR DEFINITIONS OF EVENTS AS 'CRIMES', OR TO THEIR RETICENCE ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THEIR VICTIMIZATION. THE AMBULANCE SERVICE FOLLOW-UP FOUND SERIOUS INJURY VICTIMS CONCENTRATED IN AREAS IN WHICH SURVEY INTERVIEWING PROVES DIFFICULT. THIS REPORT ALSO DISCUSSES VARIOUS PROBLEMS IN BOTH THE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA RESULTING FROM THE PROPOSED APPROACH AND CONSIDERS VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES FOR PURSUING CURRENT, OBJECTIVE CONSEQUENCES SCREENING STRATEGIES IN SURVEYS DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY TO CRIME, AS WELL AS IN SURVEYS OF DIFFERENT OR BROADER COMPASS. APPENDED ARE ALL INTERVIEW SCHEDULES AND INCIDENCE SURVEY FORMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)